Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 08/09/2010 08:29

Photo and interview opportunity

9am on Sunday19 September 2010 at Liskeard Community Fire Station

Five volunteers from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service will be joining Rotarians and a civilian mechanic on a 1700 mile journey to provide communities in Albania and Kosova with potentially life saving and life enhancing equipment.

Rotary District 1290’s Overseas Project Team is currently gearing up for the 39th such project when five vehicles – two fire appliances, two Mercedes mini buses adapted for use by the disabled and the team’s van – will set off at 9a.m. on Sunday19 September 2010 from Liskeard Community Fire Station.

The project will provide Gjakova, Republic of Kosova with an additional fire appliance to improve fire and rescue capability. Two Dennis fire appliances have been generously donated by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and have been fully equipped to include crash rescue equipment and breathing apparatus.

The second Dennis vehicle, which will be the community’s first fire and rescue appliance, will be provided to the community of Bajram Curri, northern Albania.

In addition to the fire and rescue appliances, this mission will provide Kosova’s disabled community with two purpose built Mercedes mini buses donated by Dorset County Council. These vehicles will be based in Gjakova for use by the charity HANDIKOS that provides support for some 11,000 disabled people. Gjakova’s medical services will also receive an array of medical equipment including a heart treadmill.

Two weeks later an Isuzu Trooper 4 x 4 fast response rescue vehicle will be driven to Gjakova to provide an additional resource for the city’s fire service.

Peter Robinson from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service is the project co-ordinator and says: “Project No 39, my fourth in three years, is the largest the Overseas Project Team have undertaken to date. Preparations and fund raising have been consistent and with the public’s generosity and the help of all those involved it has been a tremendous effort. The recipients in Kosova and Albania will be eternally grateful for these vehicles and the life saving capability they will provide for a long time to come. Thank you everyone.”

The vehicles involved in this project will be available for photographing/videorecording on Sunday 19thSeptember 2010 and Team members will be available for interview.